By Tracy Jordan
Morning Call
Copyright 2008 The Morning Call, Inc.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Four adults and two children suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in two Allentown row homes at N. 12th and Green streets Tuesday morning and UGI Corp. is investigating whether the cause could have been from a faulty furnace, according to the Allentown Fire Department.
Fire Lt. Jim Wehr said the call to 726 N. 12th St. came after the residents called for an ambulance about 6 a.m.
“When they got there, everyone was experiencing headaches and not feeling well,” Wehr said.
Three women — Ledele Brito, Dominga Garo and Luz Deleotejada — an 11-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital - Allentown, said Fire Capt. Bob Kudlak.
An 88-year-old man, Paul Lutz, who lived in the adjacent row home at 724 N. 12th St., also was taken to the hospital, Kudlak said.
Two young adults living at 7221/2 N. 12th St. also were examined by paramedics, but Kudlak said they did not need treatment.
The carbon monoxide level in their home was low, about 10 parts per million. Firefighters measured a very high level of about 300 parts per million in 724 N. 12th Street and more than 400 parts per million in 726 N. 12th Street.
The ambulance was summoned to 726 N. 12th Street after the adults had difficulty waking up the 14-year-old boy, Kudlak said.
Paramedics recognized the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning and the fire department was called.
Firefighters wearing breathing appartusopened windows and doors to ventilate the homes.
Kudlak said UGI has shut off natural gas service to 726 N. 12th St. while it investigates the cause, but preliminary indications are that the carbon monoxide came from the furnace.
Kudlak said there was a carbon monoxide detector in 724 N. 12th St., but the battery was dead. There was no detector in 726 N. 12th St.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and potentially deadly byproduct of combustion. Exposure to as little as 40 parts per million can be lethal over time. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration allows workers to be exposed to a maximum of 50 parts per million for up to eight hours.
On Jan. 18, Philip Prechtel, a former Lehigh Valley resident staying in the Best Western Allentown Inn & Suites on Tilghman Street in Upper Macungie Township, died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Emergency crews measured the level at 400 parts per million.
Officials said workers performing stucco repair outside had set up a plastic tent and blocked vents from propane-fueled water heaters in the basement.
On Dec. 3, a 78-year-old Allentown woman died from carbon monoxide poisoning in her home in the 100 block of W. Green Street because of a malfunctioning heating system.
Kudlak said the reading in her home was more than 900 parts per million.